Journalists photograph Khaled el-Masri, a German citizen who says he was kidnapped by the United States and detained, interrogated and beaten at a prison in Afghanistan, as he talks via satellite at a news conference in Washington December 6, 2005. An Italian court is the most recent to find that the Bush administration's practice of "extraordinary rendition" is illegal. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Italy, the CIA and rendition

Analysis: What Wednesday's stunning verdict in Rome means for the "War on Terror".

By Michael Moran - GlobalPost Columnist
Published: November 4, 2009 15:12 ET
Updated: November 4, 2009 15:56 ET

NEW YORK — The label “War on Terror” may be out of style as a description of American counterterrorism strategy, but Wednesday in Rome an Italian court served notice that some of its more controversial practices — including the abduction of alleged terrorists known as “extraordinary rendition” — would not be forgotten as quickly as some Americans might...

Recent on Diplomacy:

Indonesia: Corruption junction

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - November 6, 2009 14:02 ET

A corruption scandal hits — you guessed it — the country's anti-corruption commission.

Afghanistan: The fog of war

Finbarr O'Reilly - Afghanistan - November 5, 2009 10:51 ET

Video: Embedded with Canadian troops, photographer Finbarr O'Reilly captures the confusion and chaos of a worsening conflict.

What Morocco makes of Hillary Clinton

Solana Pyne - Morocco - November 5, 2009 05:46 ET

Italy, the CIA and rendition

Michael Moran - Diplomacy - November 4, 2009 15:56 ET

Analysis: What Wednesday's stunning verdict in Rome means for the "War on Terror".

Tweeting from Fugitiveland

Patrick Winn - Thailand - November 2, 2009 06:35 ET

Thailand's ex-premier is on the run. And he wants the Twitterati to know about it.

Interview: India's Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna

Saritha Rai - India - October 29, 2009 15:37 ET

What does a rising power think about China, Obama, the Taliban, Pakistan, Afghanistan and more?

Savoie's choice: abduct or fight?

Justin McCurry - Japan - October 27, 2009 08:18 ET

An American father wants his children back. Japan says no.

Hillary and the team of rivals

HDS Greenway - Worldview - October 26, 2009 19:49 ET

Madame Secretary quietly leads while special envoys Holbrook and Mitchell struggle.

British politics: The cookie crumbles

Barry Neild - United Kingdom - October 25, 2009 11:08 ET

Will the U.K. government finally fall over thanks to Biscuitgate?

Opinion: Too many handshakes?

Michael Moran - Worldview - October 25, 2009 10:13 ET

If Washington engages with Sudan it might be too much diplomacy for the left to handle.

Opinion: It's getting chilly between Turkey and Israel

HDS Greenway - Worldview - October 25, 2009 10:10 ET

As Turkey gets friendlier with Syria and Iraq, relations with Israel take a back seat.

China, China everywhere

Thomas Mucha - Commerce - October 24, 2009 08:49 ET

We're all living in China's world now. How's your Mandarin?

Indonesia: You call this reform?

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - October 22, 2009 05:45 ET

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's new cabinet has caused some head-scratching.

Flanked by foreign dignitaries, Karzai announces a runoff

Jean MacKenzie - Afghanistan - October 20, 2009 10:43 ET

Two months to the day after Afghanistan’s badly flawed presidential elections, the stalemate is over.

Cuba: No deal with US telecoms

Nick Miroff - Cuba - October 19, 2009 08:01 ET

Cuba rebuffs key Obama initiative that would have opened the island to better cell phone and internet service.

In China, it's a small world after all

Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - October 18, 2009 10:16 ET

The Kingdom of Dwarves theme park features singing, dancing and costumed "little people."

Constitutional debate erupts as early elections are canceled

Bruce I. Konviser - Czech Republic - October 18, 2009 10:15 ET

The Czech Republic hashes out exactly what the judiciary can and can't do in its still fledgling democracy.

Opinion: A hidden deal on Iran sanctions?

David J. Kramer - Worldview - October 17, 2009 09:11 ET

Since Russia and China will not be on board, one can only hope the Obama Administration has other plans, writes David J. Kramer.

Russia, Belarus play war together

David L. Stern - Russia and its neighbors - October 16, 2009 15:24 ET

But despite appearances, the neighbors are not the best of friends.

Handicapping the Nobel Peace Prize

Gwladys Fouche - Europe - October 16, 2009 14:03 ET

Will the Nobel Peace Prize committee make a political statement?

Global Blogs:

The Role of a United Europe

The authors, "World Politics Review" blog - Diplomacy - November 6, 2009 14:46 ET

"We need partners. We need allies -- and our natural ally is Europe," former Ambassador Nicholas Burns said to the audience at a European Institute at Columbia University event. During his speech,...

Not A Clue

The Foreign Policy Watch Team - Diplomacy - November 6, 2009 13:03 ET

It has been a true disappointment to watch our Middle East strategy visibly collapse these last few weeks as American officials have steadily turned a blind eye to Israeli settlement building. To their credit, the Obama administration had initially, at least for several months,...

Yvo de Boer briefs NGOs on what success at Copenhagen would look like

The "UN Dispatch" blog authors - Diplomacy - November 6, 2009 13:45 ET

The top UN climate negotiator Yvo de Boer lays out his four criteria that would make up a "strong political agreement" at Copenhagen. ...

CIA agents convicted in Italy rendition trial

Nasir Khan Blog - Diplomacy - November 6, 2009 07:22 ET

Morning Star Online, Thursday 05 November 2009by Paul Haste Prosecutor Armando Spataro speaking in court in Milan An Italian court’s conviction of 23 CIA agents for extraordinary rendition...

Brandeis debate: Did Goldstone admit UN colleague Chinkin was biased?

Staff, UN Watch blog - Diplomacy - November 5, 2009 23:00 ET

In his debate this evening with Dore Gold at Brandeis University, Judge Richard Goldstone, author of the UN report on Gaza that bears his name, conceded that the prior statement of his colleague...

Texas Rep. Introduces Resolution Supporting Iranian People’s Struggle for...

Niac INsight - Diplomacy - November 5, 2009 14:43 ET

Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) has introduced a resolution expressing continued support for the Iranian people as they stand up for freedom, human rights, and fundamental elements of democracy.  The legislation, H.Res. 888, “condemns the brutal suppression of the...

Use of Proxy Diplomats Questioned

Joel Davis, US Role in the World Blog (Foreign Policy Assoc.) - Diplomacy - November 4, 2009 18:16 ET

In light of Senator Jim Webb’s trip to Myanmar and former president Bill Clinton’s recent and well publicized visit to North Korea, I thought this report in The Washington Times was...

Political Assassin Robots Flying In African Skies

Crossed Crocodiles - Diplomacy - November 3, 2009 15:00 ET

Somalia is a counterterrorism planner`s dream. … “We’ve moved from using UAVs primarily in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles … to a true hunter-killer role with the...

Global Diplomacy

GlobalPost's network of foreign correspondents explores global diplomacy and how nations are participating in the international community. Through powerful news reports and engaging photography and video, our team sheds light on the important negotiations, treaties and elections that are affecting America and the world at large.

International Diplomacy News

If you wish to make comments about our international diplomacy news stories, or receive periodic world news updates, please register. To access even more world diplomacy news online, subscribe to Passport, our interactive, content-rich membership service designed to give you a competitive knowledge advantage.